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Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Review - Tarantino Standoff: Pension Tension

Pension Tension: A Tarantino
Standoff

If you’ve ever
found yourself watching the finely crafted violent, retro-adolescent films of
Quentin Tarantino, you’ll recall the consistent use of the “standoff”
leitmotif. Inglorious Basterds, Django,
Kill Bill, Reservoir Dogs, Sin City, etc. come to mind. Unlike most stalemates, ones where a winner might
possibly emerge, there are at least three (not two) parties with the drop on
each other. As a result, the one who
acts first is likely to be at the greatest disadvantage. Indeed, in this director’s visions, no one
escapes unscathed – if alive.

So it is in
Springfield’s own version this week.

SB2404 languishes in the Speaker Madigan’s House after having passed in the
Senate, held in check even though according to Capitol Fax there is reported
mounting pressure to bring the bill before the floor for a vote. Senate Leader John Cullerton and the
coalition of unions called We Are One (including IFT, IEA, AFSCME) are strongly
promoting this bill. IRTA has promised
to challenge the bill in court if it does pass and receive the Governor’s
signature into law. IRTA feels that any
change or forced choice that lessens the pensions of current retirees or
actives is not constitutional.

SB1 is ensconced in the Senate after having passed the House, held in check
by Senate Leader Cullerton, although he faces insistent and elevating
admonishment from the Chicago Tribune and the Civic Committee of the Commercial
Club of Chicago for not bringing it to the floor for a vote. Other business interests are advocating the
passage of the bill in short order.
Although unsaid in the Tribune, passage of the bill will bring all (We
Are One, IEA, IFT, AFSCME and IRTA) together to challenge the constitutionality
of the severe benefit cuts.

Cost Shift: Presidents and chancellors of 14 public universities in Illinois have
accepted Speaker Madigan’s plans to shift costs of pensions to the universities
and community colleges. The agreement
includes increased contributions, hybridized defined benefits for employees, changes
in the cost-of-living calculations, and a gradual transition of costs for
pensions to the universities. After a
second panel gathering and with the university momentum, Madigan is likely to
call a cost shift for all school districts in Illinois in the next two days in
Springfield. While the unions may
dislike or even disagree with this concept to move costs of pension commitments
to local taxpayers rather than the state (even gradually), the concept may not
rise to a level of constitutional argument.

Nevertheless,
a cost-shift to local districts will be devastating to citizens, parents,
workers, and taxpayers. Obviously, they
need a union too to protect them from the likes of these creatures in
Springfield who have underfunded the pensions to a tune of $100 billion dollars
and now design to make the workers themselves pay for it and the taxpayers pay
for the future of the costs.

In the
Southtown Star, editorial writer Phil Kadner stated: “With Madigan, Cullerton,
Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel all pushing for the shift, it’s likely to
occur no matter the volume of dissent downstate and in the suburbs.

“The goal is
to spread the cost shift over so many years, 10 to 15, that school districts
won’t initially object and taxpayers won’t care. The cost initially will be a
small fraction of your local school district’s budget. But over time those
costs will compound and eventually amount to billions of dollars.

“It’s very
similar to the scheme the Legislature used to drive the pensions systems to
near collapse. By the time the financial crisis hits the school districts, the
lawmakers today no longer will be in office. No one will remember who is to
blame.

“If a finger
of blame gets pointed at all, it will be in the direction of your school board.
In fact, the Legislature has had great success with that tactic already in
regard to increasing property tax bills, caused in large part by the state’s
refusal to fund education.

Hybrid Bill: And of course there is always the very,
very slim possibility that a compromise between the two bills – SB2404 and SB1
– could emerge, but such a bill will also face legal challenges from all the
unions.

A past
president of the IEA has warned everyone that to go to court is dangerous, a
roll of the dice. That may be true, but
it appears that someone is going to throw the ivory this spring regardless –
unless of course the hostages are held until after May 31st. Representative Lou Lang admonished the
Chicago Tribune a week ago for not considering “Constitutionality” in its
editorial diatribes. Not that the
Tribune was listening to what the Representative suggested. The Tribune editorial board likes to boast
that SB1’s draconian cuts to pension benefits will not only provide the huge
savings their business masters demand but it will also save the pensions all
together. The Tribune does not want to
deal with any roll of the dice either.
It doesn’t want to reflect thoughtfully about the state’s waiving of
sovereign immunity or the state’s responsibility as a taxing authority to raise
the funds necessary to maintain the sanctity of contracts (http://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2012/08/that-was-then-this-is-now.html).

1 comment:

John -- I liked you post. Very good summary! Call me looney (I think you have already !)but I think SB 2404 has a real chance to be called in the House -- especially if we can keep pressure NOT to call or vote for SB One in the Senate. There are very wise and experienced observers (me) who thinks if SB 2404 is called in the House IT would Pass! Seven days left! Haisman

About Me

I am a retiree, political activist, social advocate and community volunteer. I taught at Lyons Township High School in LaGrange for 34 years in the Language Arts classroom and worked as an administrator for several years. My current avocations include various community outreach and assistance programs. Having benefitted from employment in a collegial, reflective teaching environment that encouraged dedication and professionalism, I continue to seek the promotion of education at all levels as a long-term effort combining talent, perseverance, commitment, and constant professional growth - not a blind adherence to a business model of measured production.

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